Hulse Could Have Packed It In At 18

Hulsey was late breaking into the team while at Crewe and was 20 before he got his first game. At 20 he broke into the team on the last day of the 99/00 season, scoring a goal in the 3-1 win at Barnsley.

Hulse though had a tough time with injuries before that. A fractured spine, due to growing too quickly, left him thinking about calling it a day at just 18. The life long Crewe fan went out on loan to Hyde after his injury to gain some experience before he had 3 long successful seasons, finishing top scorer in all of them, with Crewe. He left in the summer for £1million to West Brom where he has already become a fans favourite after help leading WBA to the top of the table.

Hulse spoke of how he nearly quit the game: “There was a point when I thought I might have to jack it in because of the injury.

“I was only 18 and had developed a weakness in my back because of all the sport I’d been playing as a youngster.

“In effect, my body had grown too quickly and I feared the worst when I had to have an op.

“I thought my chances of a career had gone. But the doctors and surgeon were brilliant.”

Hulse still is thought of highly amongst Crewe fans, well I hope he is, and returns to Crewe for the first time since leaving in December.